Toilet deodorizing accessory including leak proof connection

ABSTRACT

A filtering and deodorizing attachment for use in connection with the water tank of a toilet bowl having a fluid connection between the bowl and a foul air space located at the top of the water tank enclosed by cover and having a continuous tank seal between the cover and the top wall portion of the tank, said seal being provided with a slotted nozzle receiving portion; said deodorizing attachment being adapted to fit on the side of the water tank, and comprising a casing which houses filtering and deodorizing means and having an inlet nozzle to support the casing on said tank and adapted to snugly fit within the slotted nozzle receiving portion of said tank seal to provide a leak proof connection. The seal preferably includes an upper compressible portion contacting the interior of the tank cover adjacent the down-turned flange thereof, and a lower relatively non-compressible portion engaging the top of the tank wall.

United States Patent Pearson TOILET DEODORIZING ACCESSORY INCLUDING LEAK PROOF CONNECTION Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Inventor: Raymond H. Pearson, 627

Sllsigiggood Dr1ve, Richardson, Tex. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 18 1974 A filtering and deodorizing attachment for use in connection with the water tank of a toilet bowl having a PP 434,519 fluid connection between the bowl and a foul air space located at the top of the water tank enclosed by cover [52] us CL 4 /2l3 and having a continuous tank seal between the cover [51] km CL U 3/22 and the top wall portion of the tank, said seal being [58] Field of Search 4/213 217 215 provided with a slotted nozzle receiving portion; said i deodorizing attachment being adapted to fit on the side of the water tank, and comprising a casing which [56] References Cited houses filtering and deodorizing means and having an inlet nozzle to support the casing on said tank and UNITED STATES PATENTS adapted to snugly fit within the slotted nozzle receiv- 3,059,244 10/1962 Jarrett, 4/213 ing portion of said tank sea] to provide a leak proof 3,087,168 4/ 1963 Huso 4/213 connection The Seal preferably includes an upper compressible portion contacting the interior of the 3366979 2/1968 Johnstm) 4/213 tank cover adjacent the down-tumed flange thereof, 3:626:554 12/1971 Martz I: IIIIIIIIIII: 4/213 and a lower relatively Pom)n 3,691,568 9/1972 Martz 4/213 gagmg the top of the tank Wall- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures 238,657 6/1964 Austria 4/213 "F212?" l 49 1 9 58 47 30 1 48 i 4 4 I I 56- j 22 t t p 942 v :0 Co c" no I 133,71"

a 2/ 23 I I fl i 1 (b 3 l2 L ol l 1?: 59 1 l I 0 \4. '0 0 0 v i- I A 46' I Sheet 1 of 2 3,927,429

Dec. 23, 1975 US. Patent Sheet 2 of 2 US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 TOILET DEODORIZING ACCESSORY INCLUDING LEAK PROOF CONNECTION The invention relates to an improved toilet deodorizing accessory and more particularly to an accessory including filtering means and a small electrically operated vacuum pump or blower adapted to be secured to the side of the water tank of a toilet bowl,- designed to withdraw any foul air which may accumulate at the top of the tank and to deodorize the same before being discharged into a room.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple deodorizing unit which may be readily attached to the side of a water tank by an unskilled person without the aid of a professional plumber and which does not require initial or subsequent adjustment to maintain a leak proof seal on the very irregular vitreous tanks with which the ordinary toilet bowl is equipped.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a casing or housing for the deodorizer having an integral inlet nozzle adapted to communicate with the foul air space at the top of the water tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leak proof connection between the accessory and the space at the top of the tank where foul air may have accumulated.

Such accessory has been proposed and one such device including a fan and vacuum pump or blower is shown in Huso US. Pat. No. 3,087,168. The device shown in this patent has certain disadvantages which are overcome by the present invention. Thus, Husos deodorizing accessory is shown as attached to the side of a water tank by means of an adjustable bracket including a hook-like member which fits over the upper part of the side wall of the water tank. The hook-like member is spaced from the cover or lid of the tank and a passage is formed which permits foul air from the tank to be drawn into the accessory by means of a vacuum pump comprising a blower unit within the accessory. This arrangement presents difficulties in sealing the tank and accessory particularly in the area of the connections, to prevent leakage. This difficulty is overcome in accordance with my invention by the use of two expedients:

l. the use of an intake duct or nozzle integral with the casing of the accessory unit and fitting snugly within a space formed in a seal or spacer means located between the top of the tank wall and the cover thereof.

2. the use of a multi-layer of composite seal located between the top of the tank wall and the cover and provided with a slot or space snugly fitting the intake nozzle. The upper portion of the seal or spacer which engages the inside of the tank lid or cover is highly compressible and may be secured to the lid or cover of the water tank, and the lower portion of the composite seal is of relatively firm but flexible material and may be bonded to the top rim of the tank and cooperates with the softer and more compressible upper portion which engages the underside of the tank cover adjacent to the down turned rim with which such cover is provided. The primary function of the upper compressible portion of the composite seal is to provide a fluid tight seal regardless of irregularities in the tank lid or cover and the primary purpose of the lower portion is to serve as a spacer. While the upper portion of the composite seal is preferably bonded to the underside of the tank cover or lid and lower portion is preferably bonded to together to form a single composite seal. Thus the lower layer or spacer may be formed of relatively firm but still flexible vulcanized rubber-like material, either natural or synthetic, and the upper portion may be formed of readily compressible material such as polyurethane foam. As indicated above either a single composite seal having a relatively firm base and a upper portion formed of compressible material such as polyurethane foam may be employed or two separate seals or gaskets may be employed, one being attached to the upper rim of the tank wall and the other being attached to the inside of the tank cover but in a position to cooperate with the lower seal or gasket.

The composite seal is provided with a cut-away portion on the side which the deodorizer is to be attached of a size and shape of which fits the nozzle of the attachment. Owing to the compressibility of the seal no leakage of air occurs around the lid or cover.

By the use of a nozzle integral with the casing of the attachment no leakage will occur at the point of attachment of the nozzle as is the case in prior art devices, and since the nozzle is also sealed at its entry to the tank leakage at that location is effectually prevented. Such leakage if not prevented would reduce the efficiency of the deodorizer since fresh air would enter at the water tank instead of at the bowl. Also the small blowers employed cannot tolerate a great deal of extraneous leakage, since this can reduce the circulation of air into the bowl, and allow odors to escape out of the bowl. Also, leakage would preclude the use of an automatic pressure switch.

The slot in the spacer or seal is of a size and shape to snugly fit the intake nozzle of the deodorizing attachment and is preferably formed in the lower non-compressible or spacer portion of the composite seal. The nozzle is sized and shaped to correspond with the size and shape of the slot in the composite seal or gasket. The nozzle portion of the accessory may be straight and may extend horizontally from the top of the accessory into the slot or may be in the form of a hollow hook having a right angle bend therein, one portion of the hook being adapted to extend into the slot and the other portion being intended to lie flush with the outside of the tank. The nozzle being integral with the casing of the accessory may be of any suitable material, preferably a thin metal such as stainless steel or may be formed of a suitable plastic.

The toilet bowl and water tank may be of conventional construction except for the sealing means at the top of the water tank, and includes a conventional overflow pipe leading from the top of the toilet bowl into a foul air space at the top of the tank.

Also in its broadest aspects the deodorizer may be of any suitable construction including an inlet nozzle integral with the casing of the deodorizer through which foul air is drawn into the interior of the deodorizing accessory tank, a suitable filter including deodorizing means, preferably activated carbon, intended to purify the foul air drawn into the accessory and a vacuum pump or blower adapted to draw air from the top of the water tank through the inlet nozzle and to contact such foul air with the filtering and deodorizing means and thereafter to discharge clean air from the accessory through suitable outlet.

While preferably a composite seal or gasket is employed as set forth above, in its broadest aspect a single seal having a slot sized and shaped to fit the nozzle of 3 the accessory may be employed.

It will be understood that the improved composite sealing means may be used in connection with any suitable nozzle and that the nozzle may be used in connection with various forms of seals, but in its prefered form an integral nozzle is used in conjunction with the improved composite seal which includes a compressible upper portion formed of polyurethane foam or the like and adapted to contact the interior of the cover or lid and a relatively non-compressible but flexible portion adapted to contact the top of the tank side wall and which serves primarily as a spacing means.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description setting forth prefered embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an assembly view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing a conventional toilet bowl and'a water tank which may be of conventional form but equipped with improved tank sealing or gasket means interposed between the top of the tank wall and the tank cover or lid, and showing the improved toilet deodorizer accessory attached to one side wall of the tank and including a nozzle portion integral with the accessory casing and extending into a nozzle receiving slot formed in the tank sealing spacer or gasket;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 with portions of the water tank wall being broken away to show the nozzle receiving slot;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view partly in elevation showing the accessory mounted on the opposite side of the tank from the position shown in FIG. 1, and showing the filter and vacuum pump or blowing mechanism; and the air route from the blower to the discharge openings;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2 with parts shown in elevation and parts shown in dotted lines; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view of the top portion of the accessory shown in FIG. 2 including a finger operated push button.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral denotes a conventional toilet bowl having a water tank 1 1 equipped with deodorizing accessory 12 connected to one side of the water tank and communicating with a foul air space 13 at the top of the tank above the water line 14 by means of an inlet nozzle 15 formed integral with the casing of the accessory 12. The nozzle 15 projects through a rectangular slot 16 (FIG. 2) formed in a composite gasket or sealing means, generally designated by the reference numeral 17, which extends along the top of the side wall 18 of the tank 11 and is in engagement with the underside of the tank lid or cover 19 with which the tank is equipped and which cover includes a down turned flange 20 with which sealing means 17 is also preferably in contact.

The sealing means 17 functions primarily as a seal between the inside horizontal surface of the cover and the top of the water tank wall and does not necessarily seal the down turned flange which may be quite irregular.

As shown in FIG. 1 the overflow pipe 21 serves as a fluid contact and connects the interior of the toilet bowl 10 with the foul air space 13 at the top of the water tank 11. The deodorizing attachment unit 12 is equipped with suitable means, including a small vacuum pump or blower of any suitable construction represented at 22 in FIGS. 2 and 3 which pump or blower draws foul air from the space 13 above the water level of the tank 11 into and through the deodorizer accessory which as shown, includes suitable filtering or deodorizing means 23 preferably comprising activated carbon, over which the foul air is passed and ultimately discharged in purified form from the deodorizer casing 12 through suitable outlets 24 (FIG. 3).

As shown the casing 25 of the deodorizing accessory is provided with a flat side 26 which fits flush against the side wall of the water tank 11 and the nozzle portion 15 is integral with the casing 25. The nozzle 15 preferably includes a vertical portion 27 (FIG. 1) which, in the assembled position, is flush with the upper portion of the water tank wall and the horizontal portion 28 extends at right angles to the vertical portion 27 into the interior of the water tank and is sized and shaped to snugly fit the nozzle opening or slot 16 formed in the sealing means 17. By reason of the fact that the nozzle 15 is integral with the casing or housing 25 of the deodorizing accessory unit l2there can be no leakage between the nozzle and casing or housing as in previous devices known in the art and in accordance with my invention the sealing or spacing means or gasket 17 is so formed as to prevent leakage within the water tank or around the nozzle. As will be more fully apparent from the detailed description my composite seal 17 is efi'ective regardless of the usual large irregularities in the conventional water tank 11 and cover 19.

As best shown in FIG. 2 the composite sealing means or gasket 17 comprises a continuous lower spacer portion 30 which serves primarily as a spacing means and which may be formed of any suitable flexible but relatively non-compressible material such as vulcanized rubber, either synthetic or natural, which portion 30 is preferably bonded to the top of the side wall 18 of the tank 11 and extends completely around the tank except for the nozzle receiving slot portion 16 which is designed to receive the integral nozzle portion 15 of the accessory 12.

An upper compressible continuous seal portion 31 is preferably provided above the lower spacer portion 30 of the gasket 17 which portion 31 extends around the periphery of the tank cover or lid 19 and may be bonded thereto. Normally the slot 16 is formed solely in the lower portion but may be extended into the upper portion of the compressible seal 31.

FIGS. 1 and 3 also show suitable means for attaching the nozzle 15 to the water tank. The nozzle 15 is of rectangular cross section with flat top and bottom portions to fit the slot 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the lower flat portion 32 of the nozzle 15 is provided with an extension 33 which projects into the interior of the tank and is adjustably secured to the upper portion of the angle bracket 34 by means of a screw 35 and suitable slots (not shown).

The bracket includes an upper portion 36 to which the extension 33 of the nozzle 15 is attached and a down turned portion 37 adapted to snugly fit the interior of the tank wall. Since the position of the bracket is adjustable the nozzle may be secured to tank walls of varying thickness.

The preferred blower unit 22 and the filtering and deoderizing means 23 have been briefly referred to and will now be more fully described for the purpose of illustration but it will be understood that the specific construction of the blower and deodorizing means may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention in its broadest aspects.

As shown a Eureka type 34633 vacuum cleaner suction electric motor 40 has been employed. The armature must be rewound to reduce the speed to about ten thousand rpm, but this represents a suitable type of suction device. Two mounting rings of foam rubber 41 and 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) mount the suction motor 40. This effectively isolates motor vibrations from the accessory outer casing 25. Mounting rings 41 and 42 are also bonded to boards or bulkheads 43 and 44, which fit in grooves in outer casing 25. A hole or opening 45, which is cut through the upper board 43, allows air to enter the suction motor 40 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3. Thus, air and odors enter the nozzle 15, and pass through hole 45 in bulkhead 43 into the suction motor 40. They are expelled from the impeller housing of suction motor 40 into lower cavity 46 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Also mounted on board 43 is a special pressure switch, generally designated by the reference numeral 100, used for initially turning the accessory on, but which also automatically turns the unit off when the toilet is flushed. As shown, the pressure switch 100 includes snap switch 47, such as a Microswitch V3-19, which is mounted on board 43. This switch contains an integral accuating plunger 48, .which operates on a fairly low force of around ounces. A manually operated button 49 extends through the top 25' of the outer casing 25, and provides for manual on-off". To start the accessory, the button 49 is pushed down. This depresses plunger 48 because of the conical shape of the button. The button 49 bottoms-out on lever 50, and remains down once the plunger 48 rests on the major outer diameter of the button 49, being held down by friction. Ifthe toilet is not flushed, the run command may be cancelled by pulling up the button 49. If however the toilet is flushed, water immediately blocks the flow of air through the overflow pipe 21 (FIG. 1), because the ball cock 51 is raised off of its seat 52, and water quickly floods the overflow pipe 21. The air pressure above the water line in tank 1 1 is suddenly and substantially reduced at this time, as is the pressure in cavity 53, at the top of the deodorizer casing 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A bellows type diaphragm 54 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is mounted in a hole 55 in board 43, and thus one side is exposed to the upper input cavity 53, and the other side to lower output cavity 56. Inasmuch as the pressure in the input cavity 53 is now substantially below the pressure in cavity 56, the diaphragm 54 moves upwardly. This in turn raises lever 50, a flexible metal strip riveted at 57 to board 43, which returns button 49 to the off position. Weight 58 insures that the unit will not turn off until the suction reaches a predetermined level caused by the flushing of the toilet. A fur ther advantage is realized by the pressure switch in that it improves the toilet flushing action. Because of the effective two-layer seal 17, the partial vacuum created above the water line in tank 11 can become appreciable when the toilet is flushed. This partial vacuum of course tends to lift the water in the tank 11, and slows down the normal flow of water into the toilet bowl 10. Since the blower 22 of the accessory unit 12 is automatically turned off immediately upon flushing the toilet, the normal flushing action is not retarded. Other types of pressure switches may be employed to accomplish the desired purpose.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description the pressure switch and the associated parts constitute sensing means responsive to changes in air pressure in the water tank 11 for automatically cutting off the blower unit 22 of the accessory or deodorizing attachment 12 when the pressure within the tank 11 is substantially and suddenly decreased.

Air and odors emerge from the blower 22 into the lower cavity 46, FIG. 2. From there the flow of fluid is through two activated charcoal filters 23, which are actually vertical drawers retained by springs 59, and are easily replaceable. The now purified fresh air then passes through holes 60 in the bulkhead 44, and back into the room via the discharge outlets or holes 24. Cavity 46, together with holes 60, forms a low pass acoustical filter, as does cavity 56 surrounding the electric motor 40, together with hole 24. The acoustical filters greatly attenuate the noise of suction motor 40. This is important because of the small size of the usual bathroom.

The composite sealing means 17 has also been briefly described but will now be more fully described together with the associated parts for the purpose of illustration.

As previously set forth the sealing means 17 comprises a relatively non-compressible lower portion 30 and a highly compressible upper portion 31 (FIG. 2). It will be apparent that the thickness and compressibility of these portions may be varied within the scope of the invention. In general the thickness of the lower portion 30 is approximately the same as the outer dimensions of the inlet nozzle or elbow 15 at the position of entry into the top of the water tank 11. In a specific example this thickness was about 3/ 16 inch. The upper portion 31 is of flexible and highly compressible material such as polyurethane foam. To give an example, a polyurethane foam having a compressive strength of 0.2 psi has been found satisfactory but other types of highly compressible material may be employed within the scope of my invention. In a given example the upper sealing portion 31 is initially about three-eighths inch thick but can be readily compressed to one-sixteenth inch under the weight of the lid 19 at points where the parts fit closely, and will therefore seal the lower edge of the lid 19 regardless of the usual gross irregularities, and warping of the lid. Thus, the two-layer seal 17 provides a stable datum parallel to the original tank rim, and at the same time effectively seals the tank against air intrusion. The simple seals found in the prior art would need to be so soft in order to achieve a good seal, that the lid would be very unsteady, and would not necessarily be elevated the proper distance. Since the lower seal 30 is firm, and the upper seal 31 so compressible that it is not capable of supporting the lid 19, in effect the lid 19 rests on a stable platform (seal 30), while at the same time the lid 19 is elevated the proper distance to ac comodate the elbow or nozzle 15, and additionally an effective seal is provided.

The elbow or nozzle 15 as shown (FIGS. 1 and 3) extends well down below the flange 20 of the tank lid 19, and into the space between the tank wall and the flange 20. It is important that the elbow 15 extend well below the flange 20, so that the flange 20 does not touch the top of the deodorizer accessory unit 12. If this condition is met, the same two-layer seal 17 may be used on all tanks, since the height of the flange 20 is not involved. This of course is opposite to the view taken in the Huso U.S. Pat. No. 3,087,168 where the accessory is custom adjusted so as to seal against the flange.

The current device is superior to the'prior art in that no initial or subsequent adjustments are necessary. A further advantage lies in the fact that the accessory may be installed even if horizontal clearance does not exist between the tank and cover flange, by making the lower seal so the flange clears the top of the elbow.

OPERATION Whenthe blower 22 of the accessory unit 12 is turned on, odors are drawn into it from the toilet bowl through the routes shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. It will be observed that the odors enter the small existing holes 70 which connect to the existing duct 71, which leads to the overflow pipe 21 near the ball cock 51 and from there into elbow or nozzle which is an integral part of the deodorizer accessory unit 12. The accessory of course purges the odors by means of the activated charcoal filters 23.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be understood that 8 numerous modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention in its broadest aspects as defined in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilator accessary for toilets, said accessary comprising the combination of a multi-layer seal between the water tank and the water tank cover of said toilet, a hollow flat nozzle located within a gap in said seal, and an electrically driven suction means in communication with said nozzle whereby elimination odors may be drawn through the water distribution channel and overflow pipe of said toilet in seriatim with said nozzle and blower,-said multi-layer seal comprised of a relatively firm lower portion contacting the top rim of said water tank and having a gap so as to receive said nozzle, and a relatively compressible upper portion contacting the inner periphery of said water tank cover and also contacting the lower portion of said seal or integral therewith. 

1. A ventilator accessary for toilets, said accessary comprising the combination of a multi-layer seal between the wateR tank and the water tank cover of said toilet, a hollow flat nozzle located within a gap in said seal, and an electrically driven suction means in communication with said nozzle whereby elimination odors may be drawn through the water distribution channel and overflow pipe of said toilet in seriatim with said nozzle and blower, said multi-layer seal comprised of a relatively firm lower portion contacting the top rim of said water tank and having a gap so as to receive said nozzle, and a relatively compressible upper portion contacting the inner periphery of said water tank cover and also contacting the lower portion of said seal or integral therewith. 